News & Media

Ulker, Turkey’s First Member to the World Cocoa Foundation

November 21, 2012

Ulker joins global chocolate manufacturers that are committed to a sustainable cocoa economy.

Ulker, Turkey’s biggest cocoa user, with an annual usage of 35.000 tons, has joined the platform of world’s leading chocolate manufacturers by becoming a member of the World Cocoa Foundation. As a member of the foundation, Ulker aims to contribute to a vibrant world economy and help the social and economic development of cocoa farmers by adopting principles of sustainable agriculture for the welfare of the world’s population.

World Cocoa Foundation President Bill Guyton said, “Ulker’s membership in the World Cocoa Foundation is a milestone for us and is very good news for cocoa farmers around the world. It coincides with rising Turkish consumption of chocolate and increased consumer interest in and support for industry investments in cocoa farmers and their communities.”

Mehmet Tutuncu, Group President of the Food and Beverage Division of Yildiz Holding who saidTurkey’s chocolate and chocolate coated products market has a volume of nearly 180.000 tons and that Ulker is the biggest cocoa user in Turkey added that: We are the first Turkish company which became a member of the World Cocoa Foundation. The World Cocoa Foundation, established in 2000, is an international organisation which aims to promote sustainable cocoa economy by giving support to cocoa farmers. The foundation is active in 15 countries across America, Africa and Southeast Asia, the biggest cocoa producer countries throughout the world. World Cocoa Foundation in cooperation with the governments, farmers, universities and NGOs aims to conduct researches that help to improve the quality and efficiency of cocoa production while giving training to cocoa farmers and their families. More than 540,000 cocoa farmers have benefited from WCF programs, including in training, literacy activities and other areas. As a company which recognizes the importance of agriculture for the development of countries, we have strategic policies for sustaining agriculture and contribution to the farmers. Now by joining the World Cocoa Foundation we are happy to continue these efforts on a global scale.